Coastal Flood Protection
The purpose of Coastal Flood Protection:
- Protect in-land areas from high lake/river levels.
- Protect low lying residents, who live North of Riverside Dr., from overland surface flooding on Riverside Dr.
- Mitigate inflow of lake/river water into the municipal storm sewer system.
- Utilize existing private property grades to meet minimum protection levels.
- Prevent backflow of high lake levels into the sanitary and storm sewers systems.
The recommended landform barrier will be an earth berm built to an elevation of 176.50, located along the North or South boulevard of Riverside Drive East. Construction of the berm will require:
- Acquisition of property or an easement along the Riverside Drive East right of way.
- Where properties are above the established protection elevation, the earth berm will not be required. The City will work with these property owners to incorporate lot elevation as part of the property's legal status.
- Maintenance of acceptable driveway grades for vehicle and barrier free access.
- Storm sewers and catch basins to capture local drainage north of the berm.
- In Area 1: Riverside Drive East, Ford Blvd. to St. Rose. Ave., berm construction will be integrated into the reconstruction of Riverside Drive (Vista Phase 2A Construction Limits).
- In Area 2: Riverside Drive East, St. Rose Ave. to Riverdale Ave., much of the berm construction has been completed as part of the recent Riverside Vista Phase 1 construction.
- In Area 3: East Riverside Area, Riverdale Ave. to East City limits (Ganatchio Trail), construction will require infill where the existing berm or intersection streets do not meet minimum protection grades.
Two flood protection elevation scenarios have been elevated based on the existing regulatory flood protection levels and recent climate change projections.
Based on the environmental assessment, the barrier elevation of 176.50 was found to be preferred. The landform barrier elevation of 176.80 would have significant impacts on private property would require extensive surface area to construct.
